SAG-AFTRA And TV Networks Move To Eliminate Casting CouchThe new agreement will limit professional meetings in off-site locations, and aims to change industry culture as the #MeToo movement has transformed conversation around sexual harassment and assault.

SAG-AFTRA And TV Networks Move To Eliminate Casting Couch

Harvey Weinstein (left) and his attorney Benjamin Brafman leave a New York court, where Weinstein pleaded not guilty Tuesday to rape and other abuse violations.
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Mark Lennihan/AP

Harvey Weinstein (left) and his attorney Benjamin Brafman leave a New York court, where Weinstein pleaded not guilty Tuesday to rape and other abuse violations.

Mark Lennihan/AP

Updated 3:35 p.m. ET

The largest actors' union in the U.S. has reached a tentative agreement with four television networks to try to eliminate the so-called casting couch, and prevent sexual harassment and assault. SAG-AFTRA struck a new deal with ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, which limits private meetings in off-site locations, including hotel rooms and private residences.

SAG-AFTRA is the union that represents the journalists at NPR, among 160,000 others in the media and entertainment industries, including actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, and news editors.

Ari Wilkenfeld, a civil rights lawyer who represents victims of sexual harassment and assault, said of the agreement by SAG-AFTRA and the television networks, "I would like to characterize this as the very first step, in a very long marathon that we have to walk to clean things up."

"To truly change the culture we must be courageous and willing," Carteris said in February, according to Variety. "At its most basic, this Code will ultimately help better define what harassment is, and what members' rights are in real world situations. We are going further, however, with the launch of our Four Pillars of Change initiative to achieve safe workplaces and advance equity."

"We call on producers and other decision makers with influence or control over decisions that can impact a career, to STOP holding professional meetings in these high-risk locations and find alternative, appropriate locations for professional meetings. Furthermore, we call on SAG-AFTRA members and their representatives to STOP agreeing to professional meetings in these high-risk locations."

It also called for union members to bring a "support peer" to meetings that have to be held in private, off-site locations:

"In the unlikely event that there is no reasonable alternative forum for a professional meeting, we strongly encourage members go only with the support of a second individual – of their own choosing – who attends the meeting to serve as a 'Support Peer.' The Support Peer should be allowed to maintain physical access to the member at all times during the meeting (e.g., no closed doors blocking the member and Support Peer)."

The new guidelines from SAG-AFTRA and television networks come as the #MeToo movement has worked to end sexual misconduct from the workplace. Last year, more than 80 women accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault.